I popped this in one day not really knowing what to expect out of it. I came in with no prior knowledge of what the movie was even about. I didn't' expect all that much, so i was pleasantly surprised.
I think the thing that stuck with me the most about this picture was that, although slightly dated, it still holds up quite well today. The film attempts to tell the classic cops .vs. gangsters story from the cops point of view, and the measures they needed to go to wipe out gang violence and crime at that time.
The film starts out fresh but gets bogged down in a tedious, and borderline pointless courtroom trial. The ham factor is through the roof here. The performances throughout the rest of the picture, particularly Huston and Harlow, are very good however.
The ending, like so many of my reviewing compatriots mentioned, is pretty shocking for it's time, but is hurt by the terribly lame lines before the action starts.
The Bottom Line - Nothing too special about the movie, but strong performances, a decent script, and some great scenes warrant ***/****
I think the thing that stuck with me the most about this picture was that, although slightly dated, it still holds up quite well today. The film attempts to tell the classic cops .vs. gangsters story from the cops point of view, and the measures they needed to go to wipe out gang violence and crime at that time.
The film starts out fresh but gets bogged down in a tedious, and borderline pointless courtroom trial. The ham factor is through the roof here. The performances throughout the rest of the picture, particularly Huston and Harlow, are very good however.
The ending, like so many of my reviewing compatriots mentioned, is pretty shocking for it's time, but is hurt by the terribly lame lines before the action starts.
The Bottom Line - Nothing too special about the movie, but strong performances, a decent script, and some great scenes warrant ***/****